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Those between the ages of 16 and 30 years-old were asked to sign up to the Anthony Nolan Stem Cell register by providing a spit swab from the inside of their cheek.

Whenever a patient with blood cancer or a blood disorder needs a lifesaving stem cell transplant, the register is searched for a genetic match for that patient using the swab sample.

Only 60 per cent of individuals in need of a transplant find the best possible life-saving match they need. This figure drops to 20 per cent for people from a black, Asian or ethnic minority background.

Former Leicestershire Police officer Rik Basra, who received a stem cell donation via Anthony Nolan in 2011, founded the Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign to raise awareness of blood cancers and encourage informed registrations to the stem cell register.

A team of youngsters from Beauchamp College helped promote the event through social media, posters and the school’s own website.

Among them were 18-year-olds Ahmed Essat and Monika Bassi, who are studying A-Levels at the school.

Ahmed said: “We were part of the team helping to promote it and have signed up to the register ourselves.

“We know how important it is to help others and we set a target of getting at least 300 people to sign up.